Pruning implement.



G. I. LIBBY. PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 3, 1909.

948,231. Patented Feb. 1, 1910-.

anuentot To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES racrnivr oFmcE.

I cHAnLEsI, LIBBY, or sA'NroRD, MAINE. T

PRUNING IMPLEMEN'I Be it known "that 1, CHARLES I. LIBBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sanford, in the county. of, York and State of Maine, have invented certain.new and useful Improvements in Pruning Implements, of which the following is a. specification.

My invention relates to devices for trimming the small branches from trees, which usually consists in the provision of a cutting instrument secured to the end of a pole, so that the operation can be performed from the ground, and has for its object the provision of an improved implement consisting of a casing secured in the end of a pole and having the pruning blade pivotally secured therein and held in an operative position by means of a leaf spring, resembling in construction a jack knife with its blade partly open. A band is pivotally secured to the rivet securing the blade in position that acts as a stop to limit the opening of the blade so that it operates as a pruning hook, the limited opening of the blade operating to give the branch being severed a sawing cut.

The construction and operation of my improved tool will be described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a. side view of my improved implement showing it secured to a pole and the blade in position for pruning, Fig. 2, a similar view with the blade opened for sharpening, Fig. 3, a rear edge view of the implement, and Fig. a, a cross section through the casing.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

A indicates a pole in which is secured my improved pruning implement which is contained in a casing having parallel plates 1 extending from a shank 2 secured in the end of the pole A.

3 indicates the pruning blade pivotally secured between plates 1 by means of rivet at and having cutting edge 5, and two flat bearing surfaces 6 and 7 on its butt end.

8 indicates a leaf spring secured between the plates and when the blade is in the position shown in Fig. 1 bears against the fiat surface 6 so that the point of the blade eX- tends out of the front edge of the casing.

When in the position shown in Fig. 1 the blade and the front edge of the casing act Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1 910 Application filed May 3,1909. 'Seria1'No:4 93,65. I I

as a hook to, engage the branch or limb to be out off andlbyl'pulling downwardly on ,thejpole A the blade, will; be opened against the resistance of spring Sand as the, limb will. follow up the edge? ofthe blade it will be giveira 'slicing or sawing'cutsi milar to the operation of a knife by hand so that the limb or branch will be efiectually cut and the danger of breaking it at its joint avoided. hen the limb is cut through the spring 8 returns the blade to its first position ready for a second operation.

9 indicates a U-shaped band or strap pivotally secured to the ends of rivet a and when in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 1 acts as a stop to limit the movement of spring 8 when the blade is cutting a limb or branch.

10 indicates a latch pivotally secured to one of the plates 1 to hold the band in the position shown in Fig. 1.

W hen it is desired to open the blade for sharpening the latch 10 is swung from engagement with band 9 and the band swung upwardly on its pivot into the position shown in Fig. 2. The blade 3 may thenbe opened so that flat edge 7 engages spring 8 as shown in Fig. 2 and the edge 5 may be sharpened.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a pruning implement, a casing consisting of two parallel plates, a blade pivotally secured between said plates, a spring secured in the casing and engaging the butt end of the blade so that it projects from the casing and forms a hook, and a band pivotally secured to the casing and forming a stop to limit the swinging of the spring and blade.

2. In a pruning implement, a casing consisting of two parallel plates, a blade pivotally secured between said plates, said blade having its butt end formed .with two flat surfaces, a spring secured between said plates and engaging the butt end of the blade, said spring when engaging one of the flat surfaces holding the blade so as to project it from the casing to form with the casing -a hook, while when engaging the other fiat surface the blade is in position to be sharpened, a U-shaped band pivotally secured to the casing and forming a stop to limit the swinging of the spring and blade, and a latch pivotally secured to the casing and engaging the band.

3. A pruning implement comprising a pole, a casing having a shank secured to said pole, a spring secured to said casing, a blade pivotally secured in said casing and having its butt end engaging the spring so that the point of the blade projects from the casing to form a hook, and a stop secured to the casing to engage the spring and limit the swinging of the blade.

4. A pruning implement comprising a pole, a casing having a shank secured to said pole, a spring secured to said casing, a blade pivotally secured in said casing and having its butt end formed with two flat surfaces, one of said surfaces being at an angle to the edge of the blade so that when enga ed by the spring the blade is held projected from the casing and forming therewith a hook, the other flat surface on the blade holding it so that its edge may be sharpened, a U-shaped band pivotally secured tothe casing and forming a stop to limit the swinging of the spring and blade, and a latch pivotally secured to the casing and engaging the band.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my 25 signature in the presence of two witnesses. CHARLES I. LIBBY. VVit-nesses:

BELLE A. LEAVITT, EUGENE M. HEWETT. 

